Earlier versions of the papers in this volume were presented at the “Regional Conference on Migration and Development in Asia”, held in Lanzhou, China, 14-16 March 2005. The conference, hosted by China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, was organised by IOM and funded by Britain’s Department for International Development (DFID).

IOM is committed to the principle that humane and orderly migration benefits migrants and society. As an intergovernmental body, IOM acts with its partners in the international community to: assist in meeting the operational challenges of migration; advance understanding of migration issues; encourage social and economic development through migration; and uphold the human dignity and well-being of migrants.

Acknowledgements

Foreword

Introduction

Maximizing the Benefits of Internal Migration for Development
Executive Summary
Main Patterns of Internal Migration in Asia
Poverty and Internal Migration
Policy and Programmatic Approaches and Good Practice
Research Needs and Means of Information Sharing
Conclusions

Country Papers

Internal Migration in China: Linking it to Development
Introduction
Migration: its causes, trends and patterns
Migration, poverty and development
Improving policies
Intervention in support of migrants: good practices
Key issues
Challenges and policy considerations

Bangladesh: Internal Migration and Pro-Poor Policy
Introduction
Poverty-migration nexus
Development policies and internal migration
Mainstreaming internal migrants in the process of development
Policy tools to optimize benefits from migration
Future trends, policy challenges and key research issues

India: Internal Migration Links with Poverty and Development
Introduction
Migration trends and patterns
Profile of migrant workers
Migration, poverty and development interlinkages
Government legislation and policies
Intervention in support of migrants: role of non-governmental organizations
Policy issues and recommendations

Pakistan: Internal Migration and Poverty Reduction
Migration and poverty: setting the context for Pakistan
Poverty and migration: literature review
Data sources /definition of migration
Migration at a glance
Institutional insights
Current policy environment
Conclusions

Viet Nam: Internal Migration: Opportunities and Challenges for Development
The trend and characteristics of internal migration in Viet Nam
Emerging issues of internal migration
Policy recommendations

Thematic Documentation

Internal Migration and Gender in Asia
Definition of a gender-specific approach in internal migration
Why is the gender-specific approach essential tointernal migration and development?
Existing data and indicators
Approaches and policies
Gaps
Questions

Internal migration of women and development in Sri Lanka
Introduction
Gender dimension
Sources of data and methodology
Internal migration of females
Women in development
Conclusion

Internal Migration, Health and Social Protection
Background
Environment of vulnerability and migrant health concerns
Migrant employment, living conditions and health risks
Migrant vulnerability and risk
Abuse and exploitation of women
Psychosocial needs and mental health
Responses and programme gaps
Programme examples
Gaps in migrant health programmes
Effects of stigma and discrimination on migrant health programmes
Investing in migrant health

Case study: HIV/AIDS in South and North-East Asia
Background
Health and migration
Country overviews
Major findings of the seven-country study
Overriding principles that need to be adhered to in policy/programme development
Health and social protection/China case study
Overall conclusions

Helping Migration to Improve Livelihoods in China: Vocational Training,

Development of Small Businesses and Agribusiness and Support for those Left

Behind
Education and training for rural people and rural labour migrants
County seat and small city expansion
Diversified agricultural production and agro-industries
Help for the left-behinds (the elderly)
Conclusion

Conference Report and Synthesis of Discussions

A review of the main key note and country presentations

Synthesis of the Workshops

Conference general recommendations